Fans display banner against Nyamilandu’s 4th term bid as FA Malawi president
There was tension at Kamuzu stadium on Sunday afternoon when private bodyguards for Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Macmillan Walter Nyamilandu Manda tussled with supporters who displayed a banner calling for Nyamilandu not to elongate his era at the soccer governing body.
FAM elections will take place in Salima on 12 December, 2015 and the Malawi Electoral Commission will be responsible for all tasks relating to the organization, running and supervision of the elections.
Supporters displayed their dissatisfaction with Nyamilandu open terms at FAM by mounting a banner at the stands which says the FAM incumbent should pay way for new blood.
“Walter achoke! …No more Walter,” reads the banner.
Nyamilandu, who came to watch the Malawi world cup qualifier against Tanzania at VIP stand with some guests including minister of sports Grace Chiumia, through his trusted boy James Mwenda directed his rough-necks to go and bring down the banners from the terraces.
This didn’t go well as supporters at the stands started stoning the Nyamilandu boys and others were seen fighting.
It took the intervention of the police who came in to stop the fight which reached to the VIP stand the Nyamilandu boys overpowered the protesters and took the banners to their boss.
Order was restored as the game kicked off but the boys – around 10 – guarded Nyamilandu throughout the game.
They gave FAM president close escort after the match into his car Fortuner NB 7111 as angry supporters started chanting anti Nyamilandu songs behind VIP car parking area .
The roughnecks warned the protesters that would kill to defend Nyamilandu.
Earlier during the week the same roughnecks manhandled MBC sports reporter Charles Chatanza when he was about to conduct interview with Flames coach Ernest Mtawali at Kamuzu stadium during training as he was told point blank that his reports are against Nyamilandu and Mtawali.
The matter is now in the hands of Police as he reported the assault after sustaining minor injuries.
Nyamilandu is facing resistance from football lovers who are against his fourth term bid.
He has however struck a defiant tone that he will go ahead to seek fourth term in charge of Malawi football, saying the affiliates want him to continue being FAM president.
“I will stand. I am ready and motivated to go for another term,” declared Nyamilandu.
According to FAM legal subcommittee chairperson Jabbar Alide, candidates must have served in mainstream football administration at FAM affiliate level for five consecutive years prior to elections to stand as a requirement stipulated in FAM constitution.
Eligible voters will be 36 FAM affiliates who are; Super League of Malawi (Sulom), Southern Region Football Association (SRFA), Central Region Football Association (CRFA), Northern Region Football Association (NRFA), Beach Soccer, Womens Football Association, National Referees Association (NRA) and Youth Football Development are the affiliates that will be allowed to vote.
Sulom will have 8 votes, SRFA, CRFA and NRFA will have 6 votes each whereas the remaining votes will be given to the other affiliates.
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